Brendan Patton, SEDD researcher, works with a one of the many children attending this year's Armed Forces Day observance at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Attendees were able to test their skills using a mine detector to see if they could locate a buried metal object.

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Armed Forces Day held at Aberdeen Proving Ground May 14-19

ARL's exhibit and demonstration highlighted support of current forces with the conduct of rapid technical experiments and assessments of developmental and available counter improvised explosive device technologies to increase the success rate of follow on testing and fielding.

Attendees could see up close a M1151 Humvee (HMMWV) or try various mine detectors to see if they could locate a washer in the ground.

Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), located on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, celebrated Armed Forces Day May 14-19.

The theme for this year's week-long celebration of the our nation's Soldiers was "Heroes on the Home Front." The theme was chosen as a way to recognize local military and civilian personnel located at bases throughout the world as heroes.

Despite the heavy rain that dampened the commute of many Marylanders, the event got underway with featured performances by local area schools -- Chapel Hill Elementary School choir and the Southampton Middle School band.

The celebration at APG included a golf tournament Monday and veterans' luncheon Tuesday, then highlighted the diverse missions performed at APG with an Armed Forces Day Open House on Wednesday, May 16, with APG's historic museum serving as a backdrop.

This year's observance culminated on Saturday with a Morale Welfare and Recreation sponsored Fun Run/Walk event and an Aberdeen Test Center/Army Test and Evaluation Command live-fire display. According to officials at APG, tickets for the live-fire event were gone within one hour after being made available.

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) was one more than two dozen installation organizations that had displays available for public viewing.

ARL's exhibit and demonstration highlighted support of current forces with the conduct of rapid technical experiments and assessments of developmental and available counter improvised explosive device technologies to increase the success rate of follow on testing and fielding.

Attendees could see up close a M1151 Humvee (HMMWV) or try various mine detectors to see if they could locate a washer in the ground.

Brendan Patton, a researcher with ARL's Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate recognized the importance of an annual Armed Forces week.

"It is nice to be part of the celebration that recognizes the daily sacrifices of our Service members," Patton said. "It's an honor to highlight some of ARL's research and development contributions to many of the local military and community participants attending this year's events. I am glad to be a part of the activities."

Joining ARL at the observance were the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center and the Communications-Electronic Research, Development and Engineering Center.

Other features included an EOD demonstration, a canine demonstration, fire-fighting displays, music (by The Volunteers and by Leftstronger Band), and children activities such as a live wildlife exhibit, a Kiddie Corner, McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog, and D.A.R.E. activities.